Signal means



H. A. MYERS.

SIGNAL MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. z, 1920.

'1 349, 848 atented Aug. 17, 1920.

IMEHTUR HUBERT A. MYERS, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO.

SIGNAL MEANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

Application filed February 7, 1920. Serial No. 356,873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hnnnnr A. MYERS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have made an invention appertaining to Signal Means; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawin s, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to signal lamps and more particularly to lamps of this character intended for use as tail lamps on vehicles.

The object of my invention is the provision of a lamp of the character described having one or more movable members adapted when in one position to display a signal which is lighted by the interior light emitting means of the lamp, thereby causing the signal to stand out in a manner to attract attention. V

A further object of the invention is the provision of a signal lamp, which, when operated to display a signal, is caused to emit a sudden flash of light therefrom which serves to attract attention to the dis played signal.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description thereof.

lVhile the invention, in its broader aspect, is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lamp embodying the invention, with the shutter members in open position and with a portion of the casing broken away, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof on a reduced scale taken near the top of the casing and looking upward.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a lamp casing of sheet metal or other suitable opaque material, and, in the present instance, of substantially rectangular form in cross section. The front end or side 2 of the casing may be provided with a window 3, which in the case of a tail lamp is customarily provided with a red lens, and each of the opposing sides of the casing is provided with an opening 4 at or adjacent to its rear end, while the bottom of the easing is provided with an opening 5 through which light rays may be directed from the interior of the casing onto a subjacent license number, as is customary in tail lam )s for vehicles.

. Tlae lighting means employed, in the present instance, comprises an electric lamp 6 mounted in a socket provided on the inner side of the rear wall of the casing, which socket may be wired to any suitable source of electric current supply.

Each side of the lamp casing is provided with a shutter member 7 which is hinged to the casing at the rear edge of the respective side thereof, as at 8, and is adapted, when in closed position, to cover the opening 4 in the associated side of the casing. The shutter 7 is preferably of a length substantially equal to the length of the casing and is adapted, when in closed position, to fit between ledges or flanges 9, 9 projecting from' the respective upper and lower edges of the top and bottom walls of the casing. The shutters 7 may have any desired information or signal displayed thereon, as for instance if two of such shutters are employed, as illustrated, the word Stop may be painted on the inner sides thereof with a portion of the letters on each shutter so that when the shutters are thrown to open position the signal will be permanently displayed and lighted by the light rays directed thereon from the interior of the using through the windows 4, 4.

It is evident that upon an opening of the shutter members 7, 7 the sudden uncovering of the windows 4 will cause a flash of light to be directed therefrom, which in itself will act asa signal to attract attention to the signal displayed on the shutter me1nbers.

A simple means for operating the shutter members in unison consists in mounting a slide block 10 for forward and backward movements in a guide 11 secured to the inner or under side of the top wall of the casing, and connecting each shutter 7 to said slide block by a respective link member 12, which is pivoted at its inner end to the slide block and at its outer end to a lug 13 projecting from the inner side of the shutter adjacent to its upper edge. The slide block 10 has a draft member 14 of wire or other suitable form extending rearwardly therefrom through an opening in the rear wall of the casing and thence to a convenient point of control. In the caseof an automobile the point of control would be within convenient reach of the driver. A coiled contractile spring '15 connects the two links 12 and resistsan outward or shut ter opening movement thereof, thereby tending tonormally hold the shutters in closed position. 7

It is evident that my lamp may be used in the manner. of the ordinary tail lamp of automobiles or the like, and in addition it forms a' signaling device whereby the driver of a following machine may'besignaled some information by the driver of the front machine, as for instance that he isgoing to stop. It is also evident that the flash 'oi' light from the sides of the'lamp which takes place upon an opening of the shutters tends to attract the attention of persons in the rear.

- movements and displaying a signal on the inner sides thereof,- said shutters being 7 adapted to close the windows and when 1n 40 having windows in opposite side walls, a

light creating means disposed within the casing, shutters hinged to the casing at the rear of the side windows for outward and rearward swinging movements and displaying a signal on the inner sides. thereof, said shutters being adapted to close the side windows and when in open position to have light rays from the interior of the casing directed thereon through the side windows, and means operable to open and close the shutters in unison.

' 3. In a signal lamp, an opaque casing having a bottom window, a front window and .opposed side windows, light creating means disposed within the casing, shutters hinged to the casing at the rear edges of its sides for outward andrearward swinging the side windows and when in open position to have light rays from the interior of the casing directed thereon through the side windows, and means connecting the shutters and operable to simultaneously open and close the same and to normally retain the shutters in closed position.

In testimony whereof I; have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

HUBERT' A. MYERS.

movements, said shutters adapted to close 

